7/27/2019 A-26 Invader

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A-26 Invader

In Brief

Designed, built by Douglas Aircraft Co. first flight July 10,1942 crew of three (pilot, nav/bombardier, gunner) two P&WR-2800 engines number built 2,452 Specific to A-26B: maxspeed 355 mph cruise speed 284 mph max range 1,400 miles(loaded) armament (typical), 10 .50 cal. machine guns, up to16 rockets bomb load, up to 6,000 lb weight (max) 35,000 lb span 70 ft length 50 ft height 18 ft 6 in.

Famous Fliers

Medal of Honor: Capt. John S. Walmsley Jr. (Korean War) Othernotables: Maj. Gen. Reginald J. Clizbe, Brig. Gen. James D. Kemp,Col. Joseph Kittinger, Lt. Gen. Eugene B. LeBailly, Maj. Gen. Wil-liam C. Lindley Jr., Maj. Gen. Nils O. Ohman, Brig. Gen. Luther W.Sweetser, Brig. Gen. Virgil L. Zoller.

Interesting Facts

Fastest piston-engine bomber of WWII redesignated B-26 (1948)and re-redesignated A-26A (1962) last airplane designated attack-bomber flew first (June 28, 1950) and last (June 27, 1953) USbombing missions in Korea seen in 1989 Steven Spielberg film Al-ways used by Cuban exiles in 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion flownby CIA-backed mercenaries in the Congo in early 1960s operated

by 17 foreign air forces SAC RB-26 recce aircraft for two years.

This aircraft: USAAF A-26B-51-DL Invader# 44-34323as it looked in the late 1940s in the Far East.

A World War II A-26C on the ramp.

The A-26 Invader served America well in threeofficial wars and quite a few unofficial clandestineones. Fast and able to carry a heavy bomb load,the Invader was easily the best US light bomberof World War II. It was later, though, that it madeits bones as one of the best of all time. The In-vader went on to serve extensively in Korea andVietnam, and was also a favorite of CIA-backedforces in small wars around the world.

The Invader was designed to replace the A-20,B-25, and B-26 bombers. It was a major advance,featuring a laminar flow airfoil, electrically op-erated double-slotted flaps, and two remotelyoperated power turrets. The solid-nose B modelcould be converted to a glass nose C model(and vice versa) just by changing the nose sec-tion. It had growing pains, requiring 28 monthsof post-first-flight development. Still, it entered

combat in 1944 and compiled an admirablerecord in Europe and Asia. In Korea, the sturdyInvader (now named B-26) saw heavy action,flying 55,000 bomb sorties. It is credited withdestroying 38,500 road vehicles, 3,700 railcars,406 locomotives, and seven aircraft.

As jet powered aircraft became available, the B-26 was taken out of service, only to be recalledto duty in 1960 with the 1st Air CommandoGroup in Vietnam. It was used in Operation FarmGate. Then, USAF had some 40 rebuilt into B-26Ks, called Counter Invader to highlight thecounterinsurgency role. Not long after that, theInvader was redesignated A-26A. The last waswithdrawn in 1969, after chalking up successesnot only in a world war but also in the hottestconflicts of the Cold Wara claim that can bemade for few, if any, other aircraft.

Walter J. Boyne

136 AIR FORCE Magazine/ September 2007

Airpower ClassicsArtwork by Zaur Eylanbekov